THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Students take over rally at Urupong

Students take over rally at Urupong

STUDENT ACTIVISTS have taken over the anti-government rally at Urupong intersection, saying the protest will continue despite the Molotov cocktails that were hurled at their tents early yesterday morning.

Utai Yodmanee, president of Ramkhamhaeng University Students Organisation, announced yesterday that the rally at Urupong intersection would be led by his group called Students’ and People’s Network for Thailand’s Reform. He said there was no definite date for the protest to end, adding that he had a plan in place should the government decide to stretch the Internal Security Act to cover the protest venue. 
 
On Thursday, members of the People’s Army to Overthrow Thaksin’s Regime decided to move out of the area surrounding Government House to relocate to Lumpini Park – a decision that made several participants unhappy. Then the group decided to start congregating near the Nang Lerng area before moving on to Urupong intersection, which is not covered by the ISA.
 
The ISA covers Dusit, Pom Prap Sattru Phai and Phra Nakhon districts at present.
 
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnog blamed a “third party” for trying to stir trouble by hurling the explosives, adding that the ISA will continue in light of this attack. He added that he wasn’t considering expanding the scope of the ISA to Urupong intersection and that he was waiting for an official assessment of the situation. 
 
Pracha said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has issued instructions that tight security measures be put in place for the duration of the Chinese PM’s visit.
 
At about 2am yesterday, several Molotov cocktails made in bottles of energy drinks were hurled at the protesters’ tents from a passing car. The attackers also threw down handbills reading “you make traffic jams, you should find a new area for your rally”.
 
The bombs damaged a taxicab and injured two guards. The protesters later installed a green net over the site to protect themselves. 
 
Pracha said it was difficult to protect the rally site because it is located under an expressway, though the police are coordinating with the Expressway Authority of Thailand and have asked for CCTV camera footage to help hunt down the bombers.
 
Police said the bottle bombs were only filled with paraffin oil and didn’t contain any explosives so it was likely that the bombers only wanted to bully protesters. 
 
RELATED
nationthailand